A day after Shaina Magdayao said she does not mind being single, it’s actor Piolo Pascual’s turn to speak up about his ties with the young actress.

Since last year, the Piolo Pascual although the two have maintained that they are just friends.

Pascual admitted that he and the actress decided to end up as good friends.

“She will always be a special friend, pero ‘yun lang. We are (still close). We always see each other at ‘ASAP.’ We have the same group of friends. Hindi naman malayo,” he said.

Pascual also pointed out that they are both busy.

“Honestly, pareho kaming busy. I guess what’s good with Shaina and I, we were able to keep the friendship, ‘yun ang importante. Parang in the long run, you want to be able to preserve the relationship you’ve started. Napakaliit ng mundo natin,” he said.

“You don’t want to do all the things at the same time. Whatever is on your plate, make use of it, maximize it. If it comes, it comes. ‘Uun lang tayo, time management lang, balance lang kasi mahirap na sabay-sabay ang nangyayari. I have son, it’s hard. Wala na akong time sa sarili ko,” Pascual added.

The actor said he is also doing his best to find time to bond with his teen son, Iñigo. “We always make for the lost time,” Pascual said.

Pascual takes on the role of a father figure in ABS-CBN’s newest family drama, “Hawak Kamay,” which i set to air next month.

He stars with three of the country’s top child stars, Zaijan Jaranilla, Andrea Brillantes and Xyriel Manabat, as well as Grand i-Shiner Yesha Camille, who was under Pascual’s mentorship of Piolo during her stint in the talent show.

As single parent himself, Pascual had been quoted as saying, “I like working with children because I kind of see myself in them.”

But asked if he wants another child now that his son is all grown up, Pascual admitted that the hard part is looking for the right mother.

“If I can have my future child with a solid family, it will be nice,” he said.

Besides Pascual said he does not miss having to take care of a baby, noting that he is always with his nieces and nephews. (MNS)